SCHOLARSHIP FOR MINORITIES
1. Context
In the past few years, the Centre has discontinued two key educational schemes for religious minorities, narrowed the scope of another, and gradually cut down on the expenditure incurred on multiple programmes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
2. Why Scholarships for Religious Minorities?
- India has over 30 crore (20%) people from religious minority groups, including six religions under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
- Muslims are the largest religious minority but face challenges, with low participation in formal jobs and many working in the informal sector with poor conditions.
- The Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee, formed by the UPA government, found in a 2006 report that Muslims were neglected in development, ranking above SC/ST but below Hindu OBCs, other minorities, and Hindu General in various indicators.
- In 2006, the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government established the Ministry of Minority Affairs to address issues affecting the notified minorities, focusing on education, economics, infrastructure, and special needs.
3. Educational Empowerment Schemes for Religious Minorities
Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme:
- Central sector programme by Ministry of Minority Affairs.
- Initially covered minority students from classes 1 to 10.
- Provided scholarships of ₹1,000 to ₹10,700.
- Now only for classes 9 and 10 after revision.
Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme:
- For students in class 11 and above (Ph.D.).
- Aims to improve access to quality higher education.
- Scholarships range from ₹2,300 to ₹15,000.
- Funding increased from ₹515 crore to ₹1,065 crore.
Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme:
- Focuses on professional and technical courses at UG and PG levels.
- Full course fee reimbursement in 85 listed institutes.
- Others reimbursed up to ₹20,000 per annum.
- Funding dropped to ₹44 crore from ₹365 crore.
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF):
- Assists research scholars pursuing M.Phil and Ph.D.
- Funded for five years, grant varies.
- Over 6,700 candidates benefited, ₹738.85 crore disbursed.
- Cancelled in 2022.
Padho Pardesh Scheme:
- Facilitates higher education abroad for economically weaker minorities.
- Provides interest subsidy on education loans.
- Discontinued from 2022-23, aided 20,365 beneficiaries.
Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship:
- For meritorious girls pursuing higher secondary education.
- Provided by Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF).
- No allocation this year.
Naya Savera:
- Offers free coaching for minority students for competitive exams.
- Discontinued due to New Education Policy 2020.
- 1.19 lakh students benefited.
Scheme for Providing Education to Madrasas and Minorities (SPEMM):
- Centrally sponsored umbrella programme.
- Sub-scheme (SPQEM) aids recognised madrasas.
- Financial assistance for 'modern' subjects.
- Allocation reduced from ₹160 crore to ₹10 crore.
4. Budget Reduction and Spending Analysis
- Beneficiary Decline: Beneficiaries of the first six central educational schemes dropped by 7% between 2019 and 2022. In 2019-20, 67.3 lakh students received scholarships, while only 62.6 lakh benefited in 2021-22.
- Impact on Schemes: MANF and Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship had significant drops. MANF beneficiaries reduced from 2,580 to 2,061, and girls under the scholarship decreased by 44% in three years.
- Expenditure Decrease: Spending on these schemes decreased by 12.5%. In 2021-22, ₹2,186 crore was spent compared to ₹2,498 crore in 2019-20.
- Budget Allocation: The Ministry of Minority Affairs' budget allocation reduced by 38% in the current fiscal year compared to the previous one. In 2022-23, it was allocated ₹5,020.5 crore (revised to ₹2,612.6 crore), while in 2023-24, ₹3,097 crore was allocated, with ₹1,689 crore for central sector educational empowerment.
- Underutilization of Funds: Despite ₹2,500 crore allocation for 2022-23 (revised to ₹1,584 crore), funds were underutilized. For instance, pre-matric scholarship had a revised estimate of ₹556 crore but only ₹43.95 crore was spent. Similarly, the post-matric scheme's estimate was ₹515 crore, but expenditure was ₹29 crore.
- Merit-cum-Means Scholarship: Funding cuts this year despite an increase in beneficiaries. Allocated ₹44 crore compared to ₹365 crore.
- MAEF Funding: Grants-in-aid to MAEF dropped from ₹90 crore to ₹1 lakh in 2022-23.
- CBGA Report: The 2022 report by the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability noted a declining trend in budget expenditure for minorities. Allocation for 2022-23 was not proportionate to minority representation. Scholarship funds seemed to be utilized mostly in the last quarter, delaying scholarship disbursement.
5. Importance of Educational Aid for Religious Minorities
- Affirmative Action Need: Niti Aayog's 2018 Strategy Document emphasizes affirmative action to uplift the socio-economic status of religious minorities, particularly Muslims. Disparities persist in various areas.
- Education Disparity: Muslims face notable education disparities. Enrolment declines among Muslims at higher education levels. Scrapping or limiting scholarships might worsen the situation.
- Enrolment Concerns: Muslim enrolment in higher education declined from 5.5% (21 lakh) to 4.6% (19.21 lakh) between 2019-20 and 2020-21. Total Muslim college students are under 20 lakh out of 4.13 crore.
- Out-of-School Children: The highest proportion of out-of-school children are from Muslim communities (4.43%), followed by Hindus (2.73%), Christians (1.52%), and others (1.26%) as per Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan data.
- Worrisome Trend: Muslim representation in total enrolment decreases as education levels rise. Experts fear limiting scholarships could negatively impact the community and exacerbate low enrolment rates.
- AISHE 2020-21: All India Survey on Higher Education shows lower enrolment of Muslim students in higher education, with a 7.5% overall enrolment increase but a drop in Muslim enrolment from 5.5% to 4.6%.
- Need for Support: Educational aid is crucial to bridge education gaps, increase minority representation, and uplift the socio-economic conditions of religious minority groups, particularly Muslims.
6. Way forward
Niti Aayog has suggested enhancing pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarships as well as the MANF and national overseas scholarships, recommending a 15% annual increase from 2019-20. It also recommended increasing the number of scholarships for girls from minority communities by 10% every year. Reassess the decision to scrap or limit scholarships. Consider restoring and expanding schemes to ensure increased access to education for religious minorities. Allocate sufficient and proportionate funds to educational empowerment schemes. Ensure that budget cuts do not compromise the goal of bridging educational disparities.
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For Prelims: National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, Sachar Committee, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), Padho Pardesh Scheme, Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship, Naya Savera, and Scheme for Providing Education to Madrasas and Minorities (SPEMM).
For Mains: 1. Discuss the challenges forced by religious minority communities in India with regard to educational empowerment. Examine the significance of government welfare schemes in addressing these challenges. (250 words).
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Source: The Hindu
